If you’ve never heard of SkillBridge, it’s a program that we at the Global SOF Foundation have come to embrace and advocate for over the past 4-5 years.
It’s brought us 6 interns, including one who was a full-time employee with us for 4 years. Plus, every intern who joined us was exposed to facets of industry and civilian careers that they never would have experienced otherwise.
We’re such big advocates of the program that we’re looping in our 100+ Corporate Partners and encouraging them to take on SkillBridge Interns as well, and we hope that these efforts will ease the transition from military to civilian careers for many Veterans.
SkillBridge–But what IS it??
SkillBridge is an excellent opportunity for Active Duty military as they plan for life after the military. SkillBridge matches civilian opportunities to your job training and work experience at the end of Service, allowing Veterans to enhance their marketability and post-separation career prospects by participating in a SkillBridge opportunity.
Any rank, enlisted or officer, may apply for SkillBridge. SkillBridge permits you to use up to the last 180 days of Service to train and learn with an industry partner. During SkillBridge participation you continue to receive military compensation and you are covered by your military benefits. Release for SkillBridge is always mission-dependent and your unit Commander must authorize participation prior to entering into any agreement with interested industry employment partners.
There are many industry partners with opportunities in a variety of fields, such as energy, information technology, manufacturing, retail, transportation, civil service and more. These industry partners have developed SkillBridge programs for separating Service members because they value your expertise, dedication and service.
Most of this information comes directly from the DoD SkillBridge website, so if you want to learn more you can do your own research here:
The Benefits to Industry
The benefits to transitioning members of Active Duty are pretty clear, but the program won’t work without strong industry partners to provide those opportunities.
I asked our CEO and President, Stu Bradin, why he thinks it benefits members of Industry to get certified to host SkillBridge interns:
SkillBridge is a great Department of Defense (DoD) program that is not being used enough by industry. The value proposition for industry to use SkillBridge interns beyond helping veterans that selflessly served their nation is huge. Companies can bring in interns for up to six months and feed them into the corporate structure to see if or where the intern might fit. The SkillBridge program allows a company to “try before you buy”, and it costs nothing.
Many of the SkillBridge interns have unique skills and current operational experience that will help defense focused industry partners better understand the requirements, the force and where best to engage. Those interns that are retiring will show up with medical coverage and a hunger to do something different.
In SOF, we access and select people that will go until the last drop of blood pumps through their heart – they live for the mission and the challenge. What they lack is understanding of how things work in the private sector, but they are used to figuring out how to get stuff done.
With a little guidance and mentoring they can become an amazing hire.
Global security is a mess and businesses with talented and skilled labor that understand the requirements and people in SOF will be invaluable. Using the SkillBridge Program provides industry with sought after talent and it supports our veterans that did what their nation asked them to do.
ABS – Always Be SkillBridging
At Global SOF, we are ramping up our SkillBridge recruiting efforts…and who better to talk about our internship opportunities than our Director of Partner Relations, Jenn Brooks! Here’s what she had to say:
Global SOF Corporate Partners represent a wide variety of fields including aerospace, maritime, readiness, C4ISR, logistics and supply chain, cyber security, human resources, UAE/UAS/MAS manufacturing, IT, academia, and many more organizations that support the warfighter.
Our SkillBridge Interns will have the opportunity to build their industry network quickly by working directly with current and future Global SOF Corporate Partners.
Responsibilities include coordinating and hosting virtual meetings, assisting in the planning and execution of virtual and in person events, recruiting new Corporate Partners, and performing general functions to support the daily operations of the Foundation.
An ideal candidate will be able to primarily work remotely both independently and collectively on virtual platforms, and if possible, attend in-person events.
In addition, Global SOF SkillBridge Interns will support the future of the program by providing at least two blog posts and a video interview about their transition or SkillBridge Internship experience. Our staff members will be there every step of the way to train, mentor, advise, and support before, during, and after transition.
Global SOF is a family and our SkillBridge Interns remain a part of that family!
Thanks, Jenn! We’re also working with our 100+ Corporate Partners to ensure that they have the tools in place to support SkillBridge Interns. So if the Global SOF opportunity doesn’t feel like a fit, odds are good that one of our Partners will be a match!
Become One Of Our SkillBridge Alumni!
If you’re within one year of your separation from active duty interested in joining Global SOF as a SkillBridge Intern, please fill out our application form at the link below. We’d love to help you meet your post-separation goals!
If you have any questions, you can also reach out to info@gsof.org!
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